Slicer



March 10, 1964 E. c. KARP 3,124,185

SLICER Filed Aug. 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

March 10, 1964 E. c. KARP 3,124,185

SLICER Filed Aug. 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

March 10, 1964 5 c, KARP 3,124,185

SLICER Filed Aug. 1, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,.l2d,l85 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 3,124,185 LliCER Edward C. Karp, Belvidere, lit, assignor to Eariitary Scale tlornpany, Belvidere, ill, a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 1, H162, er. No. 213,949 4 tliaims. (Ci. 146ltl2) This invention relates in general to a device for slicing food stuffs or the like and more particularly to an improved semi-autornatic slicer.

Slicers of the type in question, wherein a rotating circular knife is utilized, are relatively well known. One might be found in almost any butcher shop or delicatessen, for example, where it is used for reducing relatively large portions of meat or the like to thin slices. Naturally the care and maintenance of such a slicer is of primary concern to the proprietor. The handling of food stuffs necessitates a high degree of cleanliness, not only to assure an attractive and healthy atmosphere, but also to comply with sanitation regulations.

Cleaning or sanitizing a semi-automatic slicer is a somewhat hazardous process, however. This is due to the fact that although a guard arrangement is conventionally provided for the cutting edge of the slicer knife when it is in use, the conventional guard arrangement must normally be removed to facilitate cleaning the knife and surrounding structure.

A conventional guard arrangement encloses the circular slicer knife, and protects operating personnel from the greater portion of its cutting edge whether the knife is rotating or stationary. Such a guard arrangement is constructed so that a portion of the knife remains unenclosed only in that peripheral edge area which must be exposed to permit engagement of the commodity to be sliced. Operating personnel are otherwise protected from inadvertent contact with the knife edge.

Removing the guard arrangement exposes the entire slicer knife so that operating personnel can reach under and around the knife with cleaning equipment, which might include soap and water laden sponges or cloths and other sanitizing means, for example, to remove particles of meat and other residue which collect in and around the knife. As will readily be seen, such manipulation of unprotected hands in and around the unguarded slicer knife, even when it is stationary, can readily result in serious cuts.

Alternatively, it is not uncommon in semi-automatic slicers of presently known characteristics for a cleaning operation to necessitate removal of the slicer knife itself. Such a slicer knife, having a 360 cutting edge of razor sharpness, and being relatively heavy, is a dangerous instrumentality in its own right. If dropped, it can easily shear off an appendage such as the foot, for example, of an operator, and serious cuts are common.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved semi-automatic slicer.

it is another object to provide a new and improved guard arrangement for the circular slicer knife of a semiautomatic slicer.

It is still another object to provide a guard arrangement which permits sanitizing the razor-sharp knife and the slicer without danger of cuts from the knife.

It is yet another object to provide a guard arrangement of the aforedescribed character which is readily disassembled to make strategic areas of the slicer accessible for sanitizing the slicer knife and slicer while the razorsharp periphery of the knife remains substantially enclosed.

It is a further object to provide a guard arrangement which facilitates thorough sanitizing of the slicer yet which is in such close proximity to the knife edge as to prevent the insertion of the operators fingertips between the knife and guard arrangement.

It is yet a further object to provide a guard arrangement of the afore/described character which is simple to disassemble and facilitates expeditious access to strategic areas of the slicer.

These and other objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing an improved semi-automatic slicer incorporating a new and improved guard arrangement. The invention contemplates substantially protecting the operator from contact with the automatic slicer knife at all times, including those 0ccasions when the knife guard arrangement is disassembled to facilitate cleaning the knife and surrounding slicer structure. Ready access to the strategic portions of the slicer which must be periodically cleaned to properly maintain it is facilitated while the razor-sharp cutting edge of the knife remains protectively enclosed.

In one aspect of the present invention, this new and improved guard arrangement facilitates sharpening the slicer knife without exposing the razor-sharp cutting edge of the slicer knife to contact by the operator. A sharpening unit cooperates with the guard arrangement in sharpening relationship with the cutting edge of the knife.

The invention both as to its organization and method of operation taken with further objects and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a semi-automatic slicer incorporating a guard arrangement embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the slicer and guard arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1 with parts removed;

FIGURE 3 is an end perspective view of the slicer and guard arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a guard arrangement embodying features of the present invention, in association with the circular slicer knife;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, with parts broken away;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged side view, partially in section, of the quick detach handle assembly of the guard arrangement embodying features of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the defiector plate assembly of the guard arrangement;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the deflector plate assembly in mounted relationship;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view, generally similar to FIGURE 5, illustrating the guard arrangement and associated slicer knife as they appear preparatory to sanitizing or cleaning the knife; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged bottom View of a portion of the slicer guard arrangement in cooperating relationship with a knife sharpening unit in position to sharpen the knife.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to PI URES 1 through 3, a semi-automatic slicer of broadly well known construction is illustrated generally at 10. The slicer is adapted, in a conventional manner, to slice a portion of meat, for example, into a pluarilty of slices of a thickness predetermined by appropriate adjustment of the slicer. A plurality of these slices is quickly wrought from a portion of the meat with a minimum of effort on the part of the slicer operator.

The slicer includes a base member, seen generally at 11, which supports a circular slicer knife 12 for rotation thereon. Extending into cooperative relationship with the knife 12 and mounted on the base member 11 in adjustable relationship relative to the knife 12 is a slice gauge plate arrangement 13. The slice gauge plate arrangement 13 supports a meat portion or the like as it is moved into engagement with the knife 12 on a carrier arrangement 14, which is in turn supported on the base member 11 for sliding travel and adjustment relative thereto.

As will hereinafter be discussed in detail, the construction and positioning of the slice gauge plate arrangement 13 is generally significant to the present invention in that it cooperates in preventing the operators hands from gaining access to the razor-sharp edge of the cutting knife 12 during sanitizing.

Enclosing the cutting knife 12 and mounted on the base member 11 is a cutting knife guard arrangement 21) embodying features of the present invention. The cutting knife guard arrangement 21 encloses the razor-sharp edge 21 of the cutting knife 12, with the exception of the leading edge portion 22 thereof (see FIGURE 1). To facilitate cleaning the slicer 10 and particularly the areas around the knife 12, the guard arrangement 21 is adapted to be disassembled quickly and easily, providing access to the appropriate areas of the slicer. When the guard arrangement is disassembled, however, the greater portion of the razor-sharp cutting edge 21 of the knife 12 remains enclosed by the guard arrangement 21 Furthermore, the leading edge portion 22 of the razor-sharp edge 21 of the knife 12, which remains unprotected by the arrangement 20, is enclosed by the slice gauge plate arrangement 13, through appropriate adjustments thereof.

The guard arrangement 20 and the associated slice gauge plate arrangement 13 are in such close proximity with the knife edge 21, when properly adjusted, as to prevent insertion of the operators fingertips, for example, between the guard arrangement 21] or the slice gauge arrangement 13 and the slicer knife 12. Consequently accidental cuts are avoided. However, ready access to both the peripheral areas of the guard arrangement 26' and the knife 12 is facilitated.

The slicer 10 is, at least in part, of broadly conventional construction. Its base member 11 comprises an irregularly shaped housing 30 formed of cast aluminum or the like. The housing 30 includes a motor housing section 31 extending from a drive arrangement housing section 32 upon which is mounted the slicer knife 12. The motor housing section 31 preferably contains a conventional electric motor (not shown) of well known construction which drives the knife 12 through a conventional drive arrangement (not shown) in the housing section 32. A starting switch 33 is conventionally provided for the electric motor (not shown) as well as an on-oif indicator light 34.

The slicer knife 12 rotates in a well known manner on a shaft 35 (see FIGURE 3) extending from the drive arrangement housing section 32 and is, as has been pointed out, enclosed by the guard arrangement 20 and adapted to be enclosed by the slice gauge plate arrangement 13 in accordance with the present invention. As seen in FIGURE 1, when the slicer 10 is in operation the leading edge portion 22 of the rotary knife 12 normally lies slightly above the slice gauge plate arrangement 13, upon which a meat portion or the like slides as it is brought by the carrier arrangement 14 into sliding 4: engagement with the razor-sharp edge 21 of the knife. The slice gauge arrangement 13 is, of course, made vertically adjustable relatively to the plane of the cutting knife 12 to facilitate varying the thickness of the slices cut, as desired.

Furthermore, the slice gauge arrangement 13 is vertically adjustable in a well known manner to a position where it completely encloses the leading edge portion 22 of the circular knife 12 and prevents contact therewith by operating personnel when the slicer is cleaned.

The slice gauge plate arrangement 13 includes a mounting member 40 which is adjustably supported on a rear housing section 41 of the slicer base member 11 and carries a guide plate 42 in a conventional manner. An adjusting knob 43 is provided on the rear housing section 41 and appropriately connected through internal linkages (not shown) to the support member 49 for moving the guide plate 42 relative to the plane of the cutting knife 12 to vary the thickness of the slices cut. Transversely extending channels 44 are formed in the upper surface 45 of the gauge plate 42 to facilitate sliding a meat portion, for example, over the surface without it adhering in a manner which might be expected if the meat were moved on a smooth, fiat surface. The thickness of the gauge plate 42 and the permissible range of adjustment thereof are of such a nature that when the plate 42 is centered relative to the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12, that portion 22 of the slicer knife which is not enclosed by the guard arrangement 20 is completely enclosed by the plate 42 (see FIGURE 10).

The carrier arrangement 14 is, in turn, mounted on the base member '11 for sliding movement transversely of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12, as can readily be seen in FIGURE 1, and as has hereinbefore been pointed out. The carrier arrangement 14 includes a generally V- shaped trough member 50 which is ribbed, as at 51, along its interior to better hold and support the meat portion, for example. The trough member 50 is mounted on a support arm assembly 52 for movement on the rear housing section 41, transversely of the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12.

The support arm assembly 52 which supports the trough member 51) is slidably mounted on a traverse rod 53, extending the length of the rear housing section 41 and mounted thereon, as best seen in FIGURE 1 also. The trough member 50 is vertically adjustable relative to the rear housing section 41 by loosening the setting knob 54 of the arm assembly 52 and raising the arm 55 relative to its sliding support element 56, which is directly slidably mounted on the traverse rod 53. The carrier arrangement 14 is preferably moved laterally of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12 by a combination handle and meat hold down assembly 58 (shown in its stored position), in a well known manner.

As the carrier arrangement 14 moves the meat portion, for example, transversely of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12, the meat portion slides on the surface 45 of the gauge plate 42. With the gauge plate 42 properly set through the medium of the adjusting knob 43, the rotating knife slices portions of the meat off with each pass of the carrier arrangement 14 and these slices of meat fall from underneath the knife 12, between the knife and the guide plate 42, onto a tray member 60. A deflector plate assembly 61, forming part of and extending from the guard arrangement 20, extends below and into close proximity with the slicer knife 12 and deflects the slices of meat down onto the tray 60, preventing them from being drawn by the rotation of the knife 12 into an area between the guard arrangement 20 and the knife 12. The stacked slices can then be collected from the tray member 61} for packaging or the like.

The tray member 60 is preferably detachably mounted on the base 11 of the slicer 10. It comprises a plate 62 having an upturned outer edge 63. The plate 62 is secured to the bottom of the base 11 by any well known means such as by quick detach clips (not shown) of one type or another.

Turning now to the construction of the guard arrangement 20, as seen generally in FIGURES 1 through 3, it comprises a front guard plate 65 overlying the knife 12 and a rear guard framework 66 underlying the knife and enclosing the greater portion of the cutting edge 21 of the knife. The front guard plate 65 and the rear guard framework 66 are preferably secured together by a quick detach handle assembly 67 (see "FIGURE 2) and an appropriately formed positioning pin 68 having an enlarged head 68a (see FIGURE 6). The rear guard framework 6!? is mounted on the drive arrangement housing section 32 by any conventional means, such as machine screws (not shown).

Referring particularly to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be seen that the rear guard framework 66 comprises a segmentally circular casting having an outer rim 7% which encircles the greater portion of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12, leaving a gap 7% into which the quick detach handle asembly 67 extends. The outer rim 70 is formed integrally with a base 71 from which it is separated by a pair of relatively narrow upper arms 72 and 73 and a pair of relatively narrow lower arms 74. The base plate 71 is preferably secured to the drive arrangement housing section 32 with machine screws (not shown), as has been pointed out. The rear guard framework 66 might be composed of cast aluminum or the like.

Turning to FIGURES 5, 6, and 9, it will be seen that the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12 extends into immediately adjacent relationship with the inner surface 77 of the outer rim 7t and the upper surface 7 8 of the outer rim 70 surmounts the cutting edge 21 to a slight degree. The upper surface of the knife 12 slopes away from the cutting edge 21, as best seen at 1211 in FIGURE 6, to a shoulder 1212 where it drops off into a dished central portion 12c of the knife. The rear face of the knife 12 includes a substantially fiat circular central portion 124! and an inclined peripheral strip 12a joining the central circular portion 12d with the razor-sharp cutting edge 21 of the knife. An appropriately formed aperture 12] in the center of the knife 12 is adapted to receive a drive shaft 35.

As will be noted, the inner surface 77 of the rear guard framework rim 70 is canted outwardly so that the relationship of the inclined peripheral strip 12e (on the rear face of the cutting knife 12) and the inner surface 77 is such that an angle preferably in excess of 90 is formed therebetween. This obtuse angular relationship facilitates obtaining access to the surface 77 and the knife 12, for cleaning purposes, almost to the point of contact with the cutting edge 21 of the knife, without actually engaging the cutting edge. As a result, virtually no portion of the guard arrangement 29 or the knife 12 is left untouched in a cleaning operation, for example. As would be expected, of course, and as will hereinafter be pointed out, the configuration :of the quick detach handle assembly 67 is such that the same obtuse angular relationship exists.

The rear guard framework 6 6 also supports the deflector plate assembly 6 1 in adjacent relationship with the cutting knife 12, as has been pointed out. Referring to FIG- URES 8 and 9, it will be seen that the deflector plate assembly 61 comprises an elongated blade 83 having a mounting shaft 84 extending perpendicularly therefrom into a double open-ended bore 85, in which it is retained by a locking nut 86, the bore 85 being shown only in end view (FIGURE 9) for reasons hereinafter explained. The locking nut 86 screws onto an externally threaded pin 87 extending from the shaft 84 through a slot 83 in the bore 85 and facilitates tightening the shaft 84 tightly against the inner surface of the bore to hold the blade 83 in position adjacent the slicer knife 12. The inclined leading edge 89 of the blade 83 is held in immediately adjacent complementary relationship with the inclined peripheral strip 12@ on the rear face of the knife 12.

The mounting of the deflector plate 61 on the rear guard framework 66 is substantially identical to the mounting of the quick detach handle assembly 67 connecting the front guard plate as with the rear guard framework 66. Accordingly, the mounting of the deflector plate assembly is not shown in detail, reference being had to the mounting of the quick detach handle assembly 67 for an understanding of the former. In this light, each mounting incorporates a feature embodied in the present invention. This feature is found in the double open-ended bore into which the shaft 34 extends in support of the deflector blade 83. Because the bore 85 is double open-ended, food particles and other residue do not collect therein and establish places for bacteria to breed. A cleaning cloth can readily be inserted completely through the bore 35 to clean it of any such food particles, for example.

The front guard plate 65, which is reinovably secured to the rear guard framework 66, as has been pointed out, includes a segmentally circular strip 9% which overlies the rim 7% of the back guard framework 66 and carries within its confines a generally circular recessed portion 91 which overlies the central dished portion 12c of the cutting knife 12. As seen in FIGURE 4, a pair of machine screws 92 and 93 extend through the semi-circular strip ft and secure one side of the guard plate as to the quick detach handle assembly 67 which is, in turn, fastened to the rear guard framework 66 for quick detach. The positioning pin es protrudes upwardly from the rim 70 through a positioning slot 96 appropriately formed in the periphery of the strip kl and secures the opposite side of the segmentally circular strip 99 to the rim 7%) through the medium of the head 68:! on the pm.

As seen in FIGURE 7, the quick detach handle assembly 67 preferably comprises a cast unitary rim segment 5* 7 into which the machine screws 12 and @3 extend, and a depending handle portion 98 from which a shaft 99 extends. The inner surface 77a of the cast unitary rim segment $7 is inclined in such a manner (see FIGURE 6) that an obtuse angle is established between the inner surface 7%: and the peripheral strip 12c of the rear surface of the slicer knife 12. As has been pointed out, this relationship is substantially identical to that established between the inner surface 77 on the rim 70 of the rear guard framework 66 and the peripheral strip 12c on the knife 12. Accordingly, the periphery of the knife 12 and the surfaces of the cast rim segment 97 are readily accessible to cleaning equipment, for example, without danger of the operator contacting the razor-sharp cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12 itself.

The shaft 99 which extends from the handle portion 98 of the knick detach handle assembly 67 is preferably fixed to the handle portion by any conventional means such as a set pin 11b. The free end 111 of the shaft 99 has a relief 111a formed on its free end, as noted, for ease of insertion, in a double open-ended bore 112 integrally formed on the rear of the base plate '71 of the rear guard framework 66. The double open-ended bore 112 is slotted, as at 113, to receive a threaded pin extending perpendicularly from the shaft as. A locking knob 114- is threaded onto the pin. Tightening the knob 114 very slightly, of course, draws the shaft 99 tightly up against th inner surface of the bore 112 and locks the quick detach handle assembly 67 and consequently the front guard plate 65 to the rear guard framework 66. At the same time, the double open-ended bore 112 facilitates through passage of cleaning equipment to dislodge any food particles or other foreign material which might gather therein, in a manner similar to that described in relation to the deflector plate at mounting. Food particles and other foreign material cannot collect as they might with a single open-ended bore, for example.

The central recessed portion 91 of the front guard plate 65 is so arranged that its upper surface 1% lies in substantially the same plane as the plane of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12. The forwardly extending arcuate edge 1&1 of the upper surface 109 extends into immediately adjacent relationship with the shoulder 12b of the knife 12 and consequently affords a substantially continuous surface for the meat portion or the like to slide from the guide plate 42, past the cutting edge 21, and onto the surface 101). Similarly to the construction of the slice guage plate 42 depressions 1'92 form channels in the upper surface 100 of the front guard plate 65 to facilitate sliding the meat portion over the surface without adhering in a manner which might be expected if the meat were moved over a smooth, flat surface.

It will now be seen that the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12 is completely enclosed, with the exception of the forwardmost meat contacting portion 22 thereof, while the slicer is in operation. As a result, it is virtually impossible for the operator to cut himself on the knife 12, unless he chooses to slide his fingers across the guage plate 42 into engagement with the cutting edge 21 of the knife.

When it is desirable to clean the slicer 11?, the front guard plate 65 is readily removed by loosening the locking knob 114 of the quick detach handle assembly 67 and grasping the handle portion 93 of the quick detach handle assembly 67 to draw the entire front guard plate 65 off the rim 7%) of the rear guard framework 66, exposing the upper surface of the knife 12. At the same time, the slice guage plate 42 is adjusted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 10 so that the plate 42 effectively encloses the leading edge portion 22 of the cutting edge 21 of the knife 12. As a result, even with the front guard plate 65 removed, it will be seen that the cutting edge 21 of.

the knife 12 is enclosed and protected from contact by the operators fingers or hands, for example. Nevertheless, as seen in FIGURES 5, 6, and 10 and previously pointed out, access is readily had to virtually every portion of the rear guard framework 66, the slicer knife 12, and associated components of the semi-automatic slicer 10.

Coincident with the removal of the front guard plate 65 requisite to cleaning the slicer 10, a feature of the present invention facilitates sharpening the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12 without exposing the edge to operating personnel. Referring to FIGURE 11, wherein the guard arrangement 26 is shown with the front guard plate 65 removed, a knife sharpening unit 120 is shown mounted in the gap 70a of the rim 70 on the rear guard framework 66. The unit 120 is mounted in the bore 112 of the back of the rear guard framework 66 into which the quick detach handle assembly 67 extends when the front guard plate is in place. As will be noted, the width of the sharpening unit 120 is such that it substantially spans the gap 76a left in the rim 70 by the removal of the quick detach handle assembly 67. Consequently, the operator still cannot touch the cutting edge 21 of the slicer knife 12. During sharpening, of course, the slice gauge plate 42 is adjusted to the position shown in FIGURE 10.

As seen in FIGURE 11, the sharpening unit 121} comprises a generally irregularly shaped casting 121, preferably composed of aluminum, having a pair of abrasive wheels 125 resiliently mounted thereon (in a well known manner) and a mounting shaft 126 extending therefrom. The shaft 126 is adapted to seat in the bore 112 formed on the rear guard framework 66 of the guard arrangement 26. A threaded pin 127 extends perpendicularly from the shaft 126 and receives an internally threaded locking knob 128 which facilitates locking the shaft 126 in the bore 112 in the manner hereinbefore described in relation to the quick detach handle assembly 67. An outer wall 130 unitarily formed with the casting 121 performs the dual function of preventing the operator from coming into contact with the edge 21 of the cutting knife 12, as well as providing a continuous surface for the drive arrangement housing section 32 when the sharpening unit is stored during non-use in an appropriately formed aperture, as seen in FIGURE 2.

It will be obvious that the semi-automatic slicer 10 which has been described can easily and quickly be thoroughly sanitized without danger to the operating personnel, as a result of touching the razor-sharp edge 21 of the knife 12. It should be understood, however, that the construction hereinbefore described might be varied somewhat without departing the theme of the present invention. For example, it is conceivable that the rear guard framework 66 might be made without a gap 70a formed in the rim 70 thereof and that the front guard plate 65 could then be attached directly to the upper surface 77 of the rim 70 rather than through a quick detach handle assembly 67, for example. In such case, the peripheral areas of the knife 12 and the adjacent surfaces of the rear guard framework 66 would still be readily accessible to personnel during a cleaning operation. The configuration of the rim 71) of the rear guard framework 66 facilitates this accessibility, of course. In this instance, as will readily be understood, however, a knife sharpening unit such as the unit 120 hereinbefore described would preferably be mounted independently of the guard arrangement 20 for sharpening purposes. For example, it might be mounted on the slice gauge plate arrangement 13 with the arrangement 13 retracted to its thickest slice adjustment.

Regardless of whether the rear guard framework 66 is made with a continuous rim segment 70 or with a gap 70a formed therein for the mounting of a quick detach handle assembly 67, when the front guard plate 65 is removed from the rear guard framework 66, strategic portions of the rotary slicer knife 12 are exposed to facilitate cleaning the knife and the surrounding slicer structure while the razor-sharp periphery of the knife remains enclosed and inaccesesible to the hands of an operator. Nevertheless, the guard arrangement 20 is simple and inexpensive in construction and easy to assemble and dis assemble.

While an embodiment described herein is at present considered to be preferred, it is understood that various modifications and improvements may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modification and improvements as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A guard arrangement for shielding the peripheral cutting edge of a generally circular knife rotatably mounted on the base of a slicer, said guard arrangement comprising; framework means adapted to underlie the knife and be secured to the base of the slicer, said framework means including arm means supporting a segmentally circular rim having an inner surface with an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the knife, said rim adapted to enclose the major portion of the knifes cutting edge whereby this major portion is inaccessible to operating and maintenance personnel, said rim having an upper surface surmounting the plane of the cutting edge, said inner surface of said rim disposed at an angle of at least to the adjacent lower surface of the knife whereby regions of the knife immediately adjacent the cutting edge and the appropriate adjacent areas of the guard arrangement are readily accessible to cleaning without danger of contacting the cutting edge of the knife.

2. The guard arrangement of claim 1 further characterized by and including guard plate means adapted to overlie the circular knife, said guard plate means include a segmentally circular peripheral strip seated on said upper surface of said rim and removably secured thereto by a quick detach means, said quick detach means including a rim segment contiguous with said segmentally circular rim.

3. The guard arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that said quick detach means includes a shaft releasably received in a bore formed in said framework means, said bore being open at both ends whereby particles of food and foreign material are not collected therein.

4. The guard arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that said rim segment is fixedly secured to said front guard plate, said quick detach means further including a locking screw releasably holding such shaft in said bore.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A GUARD ARRANGEMENT FOR SHIELDING THE PERIPHERAL CUTTING EDGE OF A GENERALLY CIRCULAR KNIFE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON THE BASE OF A SLICER, SAID GUARD ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING; FRAMEWORK MEANS ADAPTED TO UNDERLIE THE KNIFE AND BE SECURED TO THE BASE OF THE SLICER, SAID FRAMEWORK MEANS INCLUDING ARM MEANS SUPPORTING A SEGMENTALLY CIRCULAR RIM HAVING AN INNER SURFACE WITH AN INSIDE DIAMETER SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE KNIFE, SAID RIM ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE KNIFE''S CUTTING EDGE WHEREBY THIS MAJOR PORTION IS INACCESSIBLE TO OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, SAID RIM HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE SURMOUNTING THE PLANE OF THE CUTTING EDGE, SAID INNER SURFACE OF SAID RIM DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE OF AT LEAST 90* TO THE ADJACENT LOWER SURFACE OF THE KNIFE WHEREBY REGIONS OF THE KNIFE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE CUTTING EDGE AND THE APPROPRIATE ADJACENT AREAS OF THE GUARD ARRANGEMENT ARE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO CLEANING WITHOUT DANGER OF CONTACTING THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE KNIFE. 